CORNING &GT;&GT; Uniformed and armed members of the Paskenta “Tribal Police” took up positions around Rolling Hills Casino parking lots around 6 a.m. Monday but were held out of the casino by security officers.

A press release from the faction represented by the police force said the action was being taken in the interest of public safety and that uniformed personnel were in the process of “physically closing” the casino.

The casino remained open to the public and it had not been closed, said Kate Grissom, the casino”s marketing director said about 11 a.m. A Daily News reporter observed the casino was still open mid-afternoon.

The Tehama County Sheriff”s Office received an anonymous tip that those representing ousted members of the Paskenta Band of the Nomlaki tribe planned to “take back” the casino Monday and sent 12 deputies to the scene prior to the arrival of the Tribal Police, according to a press release.

Lt. David Greer said at the scene the department”s role in the dispute was “keeping the peace.” Deputies remained on the scene as of at 2 p.m.

There was some pushing and shoving between uniformed personnel and casino security staff and one person was detained briefly until he was able to calm down, Greer said. As of 11 a.m. no arrests had been made.

As a show of support in the afternoon, tribal members were staging a picnic in front of the main entrance with free hot dogs for casino-goers. Many wore T-shirts with the word “Unbroken” on the back.

In between those picnicking were groups of armed security from both sides of the dispute.

Floodlights were being put up mid-afternoon around the main entrance and fountain.

Ousted Tribal Council members, who maintain they are the duly elected members of the council, include David Swearinger, Leslie Lohse, Geraldine Freeman and Allen Swearinger.

Members of the tribe”s Pata, Henthorn, Lohse and Crosby families were suspended at the tribe”s annual General Council meeting April 12 because they purportedly do not have familial ties to be members of the tribe, according members of the tribe aligned with Tribal Council Chairman Andrew Freeman. Appointments were subsequently made to replace Vice Chairman David Swearinger, treasurer Lohse, secretary Geraldine Freeman and member-at-large Allen Swearinger, who have claimed that the suspensions were not carried out in accordance with the tribe”s constitution.

The Tribal Police represent these ousted members and families.

Those wearing jackets marked “Police” were near both parking lot entrances with vehicles marked “Tribal Police,” but movable gates at each entrance were being operated by casino personnel.

Tribal Police members were also gathered at the fountain about 75 yards from the entrance.

Valerie Martinez, a spokeswoman for the ousted members, said the police force would remain on scene around the clock in an attempt to shut down casino operations.

“It”s not safe,” Martinez said in a phone interview. “It has the potential to become combustible.”

In a release, Martinez said the goal of Monday”s action was to shut down casino operations in order to protect the public.

“Our No. 1 priority is public safety, and that is why the physical closure of the casino is necessary,” said David Swearinger in the release. “Until we are sure that the casino is safe, we ask the public to allow the tribe to resolve this internal matter.”

An audit of financial records is being conducted to determine whether claims of embezzlement are grounded.

Grissom said the audit is moving along slowly and, once complete, the findings would be turned over to the Tehama County District Attorney”s Office. She did not have an estimated time frame for the completion of the audit.

Former Tehama County sheriff Clay Parker had been recruited to lead the newly former tribal police force, but his resignation was announced Friday.

“When I took the post I let everybody involved know that I would serve as chief until all means and modes of peaceful resolution had been exhausted; and that any point when I realized that there would be no peaceful resolution to this discord, I would resign,” Parker said in a statement.

In a phone interview Friday, Parker reiterated that his goal was to reunite the tribe and find a peaceful resolution to the dispute that has seen such allegations as embezzlement and fraud traded between factions of the tribe. He said it appeared an “other path” would be taken, but didn”t elaborate on what that other path entailed.

“You”ll just have to read into it yourself,” he said.

Parker said he along with three Tribal Council members met with the deputy director of field operations for the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Mike Smith, in Washington, D.C., Thursday afternoon. Parker said no agency — local, state or federal — would take action in the dispute until the BIA established the “rightful” five-person Tribal Council.

Parker said the meeting went well, and a letter establishing those rightful members was requested.

The Sheriff”s Office press release indicated the BIA had chosen to get involved at this point.

Chip Thompson began in journalism in 2004 as a reporter in the Mini-Cassia Bureau of the Times News (Twin Falls, Idaho) before becoming editor of the South Idaho Press (Burley, Idaho) in 2005. He came to Red Bluff in 2008 as editor of the Daily News. He grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area, graduated from Sonoma State University and prior to journalism worked for several years in Asia, Europe and Micronesia as a project manager.

Chip Thompson began in journalism in 2004 as a reporter in the Mini-Cassia Bureau of the Times News (Twin Falls, Idaho) before becoming editor of the South Idaho Press (Burley, Idaho) in 2005. He came to Red Bluff in 2008 as editor of the Daily News. He grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area, graduated from Sonoma State University and prior to journalism worked for several years in Asia, Europe and Micronesia as a project manager.